With Yann Sommer (left) and Gregor Kobel, Switzerland has two of the best goalkeepers in the world.image: keystone
Switzerland’s number one goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, made a mistake in the last match against Germany. He only owes his salvation to the intervention of VAR. Should coach Murat Yakin, who has been a fan of changes since the start of the Euro, now rely on Gregor Kobel against Italy? Our journalists have different opinions.
Bruno Knellwolf, François Schmid-Bechtel
Bruno Knellwolf, pro-Kobel: Gregor has his place in goal
Yann Sommer is everyone’s darling. He is described as courteous, friendly and intelligent. His intelligence is what has allowed him to climb the ladder step by step, until he reached the top. Few footballers are entitled to as much praise.
But now, Switzerland faces Italy in the round of 16 of the Euro. Kindness and good manners are no longer enough. There is no longer any room for stars and advertising icons. What Berlin needs is a goalkeeper like Gregor Kobel. Someone who, unlike Yann Sommer, does not collapse on 8 out of 10 shots, to watch in despair as the ball slips away. We need a rock. A doorman who, with his fierce gaze, will manage to bring destabilized Italians to their knees. A man as massive as the Saint-Gothard and who, thanks to his 88 kilos of muscles, his wingspan and his determination in the air, will get into the opponent’s head from the first ball touched.
And since Yann Sommer became Italian champion with Inter, Murat Yakin can, by starting Gregor Kobel, send a strong signal to the Squadra Azzurra. “Hey, dear neighbor, we don’t need your Nerazzurro doorman, Italian champion,” he would then say. We have even more powerful to offer you: Gregor Kobel, best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga. The Zurich native has parried 73% of shots this season and led Dortmund to the Champions League final.
With six clean sheets, he is the goalkeeper who has most often kept a clean sheet in the most prestigious club competition.
Gregor Kobel in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. That evening, his BVB team lost 2-0.image: Keystone
Sommer’s blunder against Germany, without consequences, is more than a simple warning. With the Kobel card, Yakin can make another move, and once again bet on surprise. The change of goalkeeper will be his next big success. He will then prove that he is definitely a fine strategist. And if the match were to be decided on penalties, it would be enough inspiration to bring Yann Sommer onto the pitch, so that he can reproduce the save made against Kylian Mbappé. This is what we now call making a Servette FC.
François Schmid-Bechtel, pro-Sommer: this discussion has no place
Yann Sommer has conceded three goals in three games since the start of this Euro. That’s both a little and a lot. But if we look more closely at the goals conceded, we can absolutely not blame the Nati number 1 goalkeeper. My colleague is starting a pointless debate here. One would almost wonder what Yann Sommer did to cause his tenure to be called into question. Did he suddenly lose his manners and steal a chocolate bar? Was he caught speeding on the streets of Stuttgart? We know that Sommer is passionate about cooking. Did he salt the pasta too much or cut his spaghetti to the point that all Italians now want to score him?
In short, what is his crime? It is not on the level of performance that we can open the debate on the number 1 goalkeeper position. Nor can we begrudge him the praise he deserves.
Of course, he didn’t look good when Germany’s Robert Andrich struck on Sunday against the Nati. But the goal was not awarded. Should he be sanctioned? Does he now have to polish the bench? No. Firstly because this error is an isolated case. And Gregor Kobel’s placement in the Champions League final against Real Madrid is not exempt from criticism either.
The time will come when 26-year-old Gregor Kobel replaces 35-year-old Yann Sommer as number 1 in the Swiss national team. That could have happened before this Euro. But Kobel has always been out when Murat Yakin wanted to give him a chance. He will soon take over, perhaps even as soon as this tournament is over. After all, you have to know how to turn the page and look to the future.
On the other hand, changing goalkeepers in the middle of a tournament when it is not necessary is as absurd as entering the field without a goalkeeper. Is it smart to change a man who is performing and has created automatisms with his defense before a crucial round of 16? Is it really a good idea to place a goalkeeper on the bench who knows Italian players better because he plays in Serie A? Is this the right time to cause some disorder in the group? No. Starting Kobel in place of Sommer against Italy would be pure madness.
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